They made their conclusions after following the health of almost 390,000 people, aged 50 to 71, for 12 years. The team, from the US’s National Cancer Institute, found men who took at least 1,000mg daily were at a 19 per cent increased risk of dying from heart disease, than those who took none.

“We found that supplemental but not dietary calcium intake was associated with an increased cardiovascular disease mortality in men but not in women,” the authors concluded.

They added: “Whether there is a sex difference in the cardiovascular effect of calcium supplement warrants further investigation. Given the extensive use of calcium supplement in the population, it is of great importance to assess the effect of supplemental calcium use beyond bone health,"

Their study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Previous studies have found a link between high-dose calcium pills and heart disease deaths in both men and women. About five million people in Britain are thought to take calcium supplements in one form or another.

Dr Carrie Ruxton, of the Health Supplements Information Service, said: “Calcium is an essential mineral for the health of the bones and the nervous system. Ensuring adequate intake is vital.”